Stage curtain and drop support bracket



March 9, 1965 -r. cs. HALLORAN STAGE CURTAIN AND DROP SUPPORT BRACKET Filed March 14, 1963 INVENTOR.

THOMAS G. HALLORAN United States Patent 3,172,635 STAGE CURTAIN AND DROP SUPPORT BRACKET Thomas G. Halloran, 5017 Cleves Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio Filed Mar. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 266,138 7 Claims. (Cl. 248-251) This invention relates to a bracket, and more particularly to a bracket which is adapted to be associated with the upper open end of a tubular member such as, by way of example, a cylindrical cardboard tube providing mounting means for each of a pair of transverse support elements which are supported by and spanningly engage the upper ends of a pair of similar vertically disposed cylindrical members.

In particular the subject bracket is constructed of wire, and arranged in such a manner as to be received into the end of a tubular member with portions 'of the bracket engaging the ends and end-adjacent portions of the side walls of the tubular member, for providing simple yet highly eficient means for quickly and inexpensively constructing a stage curtain for use by children and amateur theatrical productions.

An object of the invention is to provide a bracket for the purpose stated, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which may be associated with readily available components to construct a simple stage curtain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stage curtain structure which may be quickly and easily erected, using commonly available components purchaseable at slight cost in any community store handling general merchandise.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a stage curtain assemlage utilizing a bracket of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the curtain of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the bracket of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view, partly in section, illustrating the manner in which a tubular member may be supported conveniently and inexpensively in a vertical position.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a tubular member provided with the bracket of FIG. 3 and the stand of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the subject bracket applied to the upper end of a tubular member for supporting a movable curtain on one side and a curtain drop on the other side of the support member.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the manner in which a plurality of tubular members may be interconnected for obtaining the desired overall height of the curtain assembly.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, the numerals 10, 12 and 14 denote, respectively, the insert legs and the bottom strut of a U-shaped tongue adapted to be received within a tubular member 18. Preferably, the length of bottom strut 14 is substantially equal to the inside diameter of tubular member 18, whereby upstanding legs and 12 will frictionally engage and project upwardly along the inner face 16 of member 18, note FIG. 6.

The upper end of leg 10 is turned outwardly and downwardly to provide an inverted U-shaped extension including a substantially horizontal arm 20 which is preferably parallel to bottom leg 14.

The upper end of leg 12 is bent at right angles with leg 12 and at right angles with bottom strut 14 to provide offset leg 22, the length of which latter is preferably not less than the radius of a tubular member 18, as will hereinafter be made more fully apparent. The outer end of offset leg 22 is turned upwardly to provide a vertical upright leg 24 in substantial spaced parallelism with leg 12. The upper end of upright leg 24 is turned downwardly and thence upwardly to provide loop sections 26 and 30 wherein section 30 serves as a post terminating in a free upper terminal end 32. The several elements 26, 30 and 24 are disposed in a common plane parallel to a plane which includes elements 10, 12 and 14.

With reference now to arm 20, it will be noted that it terminates in a depending branch 40 the lower end of which is in the direction of leg 22 to form branch 42 in substantial spaced parallelism with leg 22. Branch 42 comprises the upper end of a depending hanger 44 the lower end of which is turned upwardly to provide a terminal hook 46 having a free upper end 48.

With further reference now to FIG. 6, it will be noted that the support bracket of FIG. 3, when associated with the free upper end of a tubular member 18, will be so related relative to said tubular member as to position post 39 above and to one side of tubular member 18 and wherein terminal hook 46 will be disposed below the upper end of the tubular member and adjacent that side of said member remote from post 30.

The numeral 50 denotes generally a conventional curtain rod having an opening therein for the reception of post 30.

It will be understood that by using a pair of right and left brackets, as per FIG. 3, each associated with the upper end 'of a vertical tube 18, a curtain rod 50 may be securely though releasably supported in spanning relationship above and between such tubes serving as supporting standards. A drop curtain 52 may be suspended from the curtain rod 50 for thereby concealing the upper ends of tubular members 18 as well as the operating structure secured to and carried by hook 46.

The numeral 60 denotes generally the support rod of a traverse-type curtain rod assembly of the type which includes a pulley 62 pivotally mounted between walls 64 and 66 for accommodating the upper and lower reaches 68 and 70 of a pull cord. A plurality of slidable hanger elements 81 are associated with member 60 whereby said hanger elements may be shifted axially for opening and/or closing a curtain suspended therefrom as by elements 82.

A pair of tubular members 18A and 1813 may be mounted in vertical, spaced relationship as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by any suitable support means such as, by way of example, a pair of footed U-shaped members 96 and 98 which may be inserted upwardly into the lower end of each tubular member.

Curtain rod 50 may be associated with upstanding posts 30 and will provide support for a drop curtain 52, which curtain will be disposed just forwardly of the upper ends of tubular members 18A and 18B so as to completely conceal them.

Traverse rod assembly 60 may be carried by upstanding hooks 46 to the rear of the tubular member and in spaced parallelism with curtain rod 50.

As indicated in FIG. 2, by manipulation of pull cords C and D, curtain 80 may be drawn closed or open for providing a realistic stage setting.

To provide for possible variations in height of the curtain assembly when required, the structure of FIG. 7 may be employed. As shown therein, two tubular members 18 are superposed one upon the other axially to the required overall height, and where said members meet at joint 84 a reinforcement may be provided in the form of an undersize tube section 86 telescopically engaging the meeting end portions of tubular members 18-18. The tube section 86 by preference has a snug fit within the ends of members 18-18. With this arrangement the height of the curtain assembly may be varied with ease and despatch, to accommodate it to surrounding conditions and limitations.

As will readily be apparent from the disclosure herein, a stage setting for amateur performances may be quickly and easily erected without elaborate preparation, using components which are readily obtainable at low cost from any community store handling general merchandise.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in structural details of the apparatus may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A support bracket for insertion into an end of a tubular member, said bracket comprising a U-shaped tongue having a bottom and upstanding side legs receivable within the tubular member, the upper end of one of said side legs being turned outwardly at right angles to the plane of the tongue, thence upwardly in a parallel plane with the said one side leg and thence downwardly and upwardly for providing a U-shaped member terminating in an upstanding leg having a free terminal end, the other side leg of said tongue being bent outwardly and thence downwardly in the plane of the tongue and thence, at right angles to the plane of the tongue and in a parallel plane with the plane of the outwardly extending portion of the other side leg of said tongue, thence downwardly and turned upwardly to provide a leg having a free terminal end; wherein the overall length of the bottom leg of said tongue approximates the diameter of the tube into which it isreceived; and wherein one of said outturned legs is adapted to bear against the upper end of the tubular member for determining the degree of penetration of said tongue within a tubular member.

2. The bracket as set forth in claim 1, consisting of a single length of wire stock.

3. A stage curtain and drop support bracket for attachment to an end of an upright tubular standard, said bracket comprising a U-shaped tongue having upstanding spaced parallel legs and a connecting bottom strut, one of said legs being bent at approximate right angles to the plane of said legs to provide an oflset leg tangential to the tubular standard, said ofi'set leg being turned to provide an upright leg disposed in a plane which includes the offset leg and that tongue leg which includes the offset leg, the upright leg being developed to provide a loop section including an upright post to support a curtain drop rod, the other leg of the U-shaped tongue being bent outwardly in the plane of the tongue to provide a horizontal arm adapted to rest upon the upper open end of the upright tubular standard,'a depending branch on said arm lying substantially in the plane of the tongue, said arm being bent transversely of the tongue plane to provide a lateral branch extending in substantial parallelism with the offset leg aforesaid, and a hanger depending from said lateral branch, including a terminal hook to engage and support a curtain rod.

4. The device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the drop rod post and the terminal hook are disposed, respectively, above and below the level of the standard-engaging arm of said other tongue leg.

5. The bracket as set forth in claim 3, consisting of a single length of metallic wire stock.

6. A stage curtain and drop structure comprising in combination an upright tubular standard having an open upper end, and a bracket for releasable mounting within said open end, said bracket comprising a single length of wire bent to provide a U-shaped tongue having upstanding spaced parallel legs and a connecting strut, said legs being spaced apart a distance approximating the inside diameter of the tubular standard for snug reception therein, one of said legs being bent at approximate right angles to the plane of said legs to provide an offset leg tangential to the tubular standard, said offset leg being turned to provide an upright exterior leg disposed in a plane which includes the offset leg and that tongue leg which includes the offset leg, the upright exterior leg being developed to provide a loop section including an upright post to support a curtain drop rod, the other leg of the U-shaped tongue being bent outwardly in the plane of the tongue to provide a horizontal arm to abut the open upper end of the upright tubular standard, a depending branch on said arm lying substantially in the plane of the tongue, said arm being bent transversely of the tongue plane to provide a lateral branch extending in substantial parallelism with the offset leg aforesaid, and a hanger depending from said lateral branch, including a terminal hook to support a curtain rod.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein the drop rod post and the terminal hook are disposed, respectively, above and below the level of the horizontal arm which abuts the open upper end of the tubular standard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 632,999 Grant Sept. 12, 1899 1,015,183 Hering Jan. 16, 1912 1,956,504 Hank -1 Apr. 24, 1934 2,016,741 Gossner Oct. 8, 1935 2,186,533 Lange Ian. 9, 1940 2,917,188 Menin 1 Dec. 15, 1959 

6. A STAGE CURTAIN AND DROP STRUCTURE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION AN UPRIGHT TUBULAR STANDARD HAVING AN OPEN UPPER END, AND A BRACKET FOR RELEASABLE MOUNTING WITHIN SAID OPEN END, SAID BRACKET COMPRISING A SINGLE LENGTH OR WIRE BENT TO PROVIDE A U-SHAPED TONGUE HAVING UPSTANDING SPACED PARALLEL LEGS AND A CONNECTING STRUT, SAID LEGS BEING SPACED APART A DISTANCE APPROXIMATING THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF THE TUBULAR STANDARD FOR SNUG RECEPTION THEREIN, ONE OF SAID LEGS BEING BENT AT APPROXIMATE RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PLANE OF SAID LEGS TO PROVIDE AND OFFSET LEG TANGENTIAL TO THE TUBULAR STANDARD, SAID OFFSET LEG BEING TURNED TO PROVIDE AN UPRIGHT EXTERIOR LEG DISPOSED IN A PLANE WHICH INCLUDES THE OFFSET LEG AND THAT TONGUE LEG WHICH INCLUDES THE OFFSET LEG, THE UPRIGHT EXTERIOR LEG BEING DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE A LOOP SECTION INCLUDING AN UPRIGHT POST TO SUP- 